Leicester City marked their first game since the sacking of Craig Shakespeare with a 2-1 victory at Swansea that dragged the club out of the Premier League relegation zone.

Shinji Okazaki and an own goal from Swans defender Federico Fernandez helped secure the win for caretaker boss Micheal Appleton.

Four days have passed since Shakespeare was sacked, four months into a three-year contract, but Leicester responded to pick up their second win of the Premier League campaign, and first away from home.

Appleton said in the build-up that he would not change the team too much, if only one or two tweaks. He went with one, as Shinji Okazaki came into the starting line-up in place of Kelechi Iheanacho.

The Japan international reminded everyone why Leicester are a better side, in this system, with him in the side. With less than a minute gone, he led a counter-attack and flicked a near-post header on target.

Federico Fernandez after putting the ball into his own net during the Premier League match between Swansea and Leicester City at The Liberty Stadium (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP/Getty Images)

Okazaki again caused Swansea problems when he fired in a low cross from the right, which Marc Albrighton lashed towards goal, only for Lukasz Fabianski to tip it over.

Okazaki went close himself, too, as he scampered in after Wilfred Ndidi’s header was saved, but Federico Fernandez got there just in front to deny the City striker a trademark scruffy tap-in.

Leicester took the lead after 25 minutes. Riyad Mahrez crossed from the left, which deflected in off the head of Fernandez. Swansea thought the pass from Okazaki had gone out for a goal-kick.

While Okazaki scuttled about like a frantic truffle hound, Vicente Iborra controlled play in the midfield, so composed he may as well have been wearing a velvet jacket and slippers.

Federico Fernandez and Shinji Okazaki during the Premier League match between Swansea and Leicester City at The Liberty Stadium in Swansea. (Photo by GEOFF CADDICK/AFP/Getty Images)

Iborra made sure he could take the 'no nonsense' approach if he wanted to, though, when he ran up to a loose ball and hoofed into straight into touch as though he were auditioning for a John Smith's advert.

Okazaki crowned his afternoon with a goal just after the break. A superb cross-field ball from Albrighton found Mahrez, level with the last defender, whose first-time cushioned pass gave Okazaki the easiest of finishes.

The goal marked Okazaki’s fifth goal in his last nine Premier League appearances, more than his previous 51 in the competition.

That should have been enough to kill the game off, but Swansea found more than a thread of hope when the ball dropped to Alfie Mawson on the edge of the box and he squeezed his shot past Schmeichel.

Shinji Okazaki scores Leicester City's second goal during the Premier League match against Swansea at Liberty Stadium (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Swansea, rejuvenated, pushed for a second but neither Abraham nor Renato Sanches could direct their headers on target.

Vardy should have put the game to bed with 15 minutes to play, when he was played in one-on-one by Mahrez, but Fabianski denied him.

Leicester’s fans had arrived at the Liberty Stadium in mixed spirits with a small group of fans, armed with a ‘Rudkin Out’ banner, directing chants towards City director of football Jon Rudkin.

They left in much stronger voice and cheered the Leicester fans from the field, who went over to applaud the travelling support.